Author: Whitaker's Natural Market

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Diet Soda Increases Stroke Risk

Many people drink diet sodas and other artificially sweetened drinks simply because they’ve been having them for years. It may have begun in an attempt to be healthier, avoid excessive sugar intake, and keep weight under control. Of course, now most of us know more about the considerable downside to artificial sweeteners, but plenty of people still haven’t broken their habit. However, if you’re an older woman, you just might have one more reason to leave those diet sodas and other artificially sweetened drinks on the grocery store shelves. New research suggests that these kinds of drinks are associated with a considerable rise in the likelihood of having a stroke.

The study, which was conducted at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York City, found that the risk of stroke is notably increased in women who consume artificially sweetened beverages on a regular basis. These results are based on an investigation that included 81,714 women who had undergone menopause. All the subjects ranged in age from 50 to 79 when they committed to participation in the Women’s Health Initiative at some point between 1993 and 1998.

The volunteers were followed for an average of 11.9 years, with the researchers keeping tabs on their overall health status. During the study period, the subjects completed a questionnaire on their eating habits that included reporting how often they consumed diet sodas and diet fruit beverages across a three-month span.

Just under two-thirds of the participants said they consumed diet soda or fruit drinks less than once a week or not at all. In fact, it was only approximately five percent of the women who reported “heavy” consumption of these artificially sweetened drinks, which was defined as two or more drinks per day. However, among this group with the most frequent consumption of diet drinks, the overall stroke risk was 23 percent higher than for those who drank them less than once a week.

When the investigators separated out types of stroke, they discovered that ischemic strokes, which are brought on by blood clots, were 31 percent more likely in frequent drinkers of artificially sweetened beverages. That may be due to blocked arteries, which often arise from an accumulation of clots that reduce the flow of blood. What’s more, other cardiovascular issues and health problems were also associated with the diet drinks. The subjects who said they consumed two diet drinks a day or more had a 29 percent higher risk of developing heart disease. In addition, they had a 16 percent elevated risk of early mortality from any cause.

When broken down into subgroups, some segments of this population of postmenopausal women were also shown to have a greater chance of problems linked to their consumption of artificially sweetened drinks. Perhaps not surprisingly, obese women—even when they had no history of diabetes or heart disease—have twice the risk of suffering from a stroke if they frequently consume diet drinks. Perhaps more surprising were differences found by race. Black women who have no history of diabetes or heart disease have a whopping four times greater risk of stroke if they are heavy consumers of diet drinks. And all of the findings held steady even after the investigators controlled for potentially influential factors such as age, blood pressure levels, and smoking habits.

While the study was missing specific information as to which kinds of artificial sweeteners were used in the various diet drinks consumed, it is probably safe to say that any artificial type of sugar substitute is likely risky. Also, we don’t necessarily know that men or younger women would experience the same rise in stroke risk from artificially sweetened drinks, but we do know that they add no nutritional value and are linked to other health issues including heart disease, cancer, and weight gain.

Ultimately, it is far better to avoid artificial sweeteners in all your drinks. Instead, choose soda sweetened with evaporated cane sugar.  Be sure to check out our soda selection all sweetened with evaporated cane sugar on your next visit to Whitaker’s,

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Excess Weight Can Increase Your Cancer Risk!

Carrying a lot of excess weight is undeniably unhealthy. It can increase the chance of developing numerous conditions including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and certain cancers. You may think of these problems as something that takes a very long time to develop, occurring during the senior years or maybe in middle age if you’re unlucky. But new research indicates you can throw that thinking out the window. In the case of obesity-related cancers, the risk is on the rise even in young adults.

The study, which took place at the Surveillance and Health Services Research Program of the American Cancer Society in Atlanta, Georgia, found that several forms of cancer known to be associated with obesity have been increasing in people between the ages of 25 and 49. These results are based on an evaluation of data collected in the cancer registries of 25 states, representing 67 percent of the United States population. The researchers focused on 30 common types of cancer, of which 12 are known to be related to obesity and that were diagnosed between 1995 and 2014.

Among young adults ranging in age from 25 to 49, the rates of several of those obesity-related cancers increased during the study period. These included cancer of the colon, gallbladder, kidney, pancreas, thyroid, and uterus, as well as multiple myeloma (a cancer of the plasma cells in the blood).  The rate increases varied by cancer types (varying from a 1-6% increase per year!). What’s more, the average annual rate of cancer is rising more quickly among younger people than older ones, even if the overall rate is still lower. In other words, while the total risk of developing any one of these kinds of cancer is still relatively low in people in their 20s, 30s, or 40s, the risk is clearly climbing much faster than it should be. And when considered cumulatively, the risk of developing some form of obesity-related cancer in your youth can no longer be dismissed. Since these cancers are all known to have a common risk factor of obesity, it makes perfect sense why they would be on the rise in younger adults. That’s because the rate of obesity has been steadily increasing since the late 1970s in the United States. In the years covered by the study period, the rate of obesity in the United States went from roughly 15 percent in 1995 to nearly 28 percent in 2014 and 39.8 percent in 2016—rising considerably among those under 50.

Obviously, obesity is not the only risk factor for any of these kinds of cancer, but it is one that is very much within our control. Therefore, to lower your risk, it is essential to lose excess weight. Eating a healthy diet based on grass fed meats, fish, fruits, nuts, and vegetables can help you manage your weight and reduce the likelihood of developing cancer.  Weight loss can also decrease your likelihood of other health issues including diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and more.  Along with a healthy diet, supplements such as Slim VX1, 7-Keto, Apple Cider Vinegar Capsules, Cascara Sagrada, Diet Support, and EGCg can also help with weight loss.  Be sure to check out our weight loss section on your next visit to Whitaker’s,

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Women Stress More Than Men; however, Stress for Both Can Lead to Health Issues!

A recent survey of 2000 women by Garnier Fructis found that the average woman doesn’t have enough hours in a day to complete her tasks. In fact, she needs 82 more minutes daily than are available to get everything done. Seven in 10 women said they always feel rushed when they leave their homes. A full 38 percent said they hadn’t had an afternoon to themselves in more than a month. If they were given more time in the day, about half the women said they’d use it to sleep, indicating they aren’t getting enough z’s. Thirty-six percent would use the time to read, and about a third would use it to exercise.

Although, according to some measures, men and women report similar stress levels, a 2016 study published in the Journal of Brain & Behavior reported that two times as many women experience severe stress and anxiety compared to men. A 2006 study by the American Psychological Association (APA) found 51 percent of women reporting high levels of stress compared to 43 percent of men, and women repeatedly score higher in annual APA stress studies.

According to research published in the journal Personality and Individual Differences, women react more to stress than men do. The article noted, “Although there was no difference in the number of life events experienced in the previous two years, the women rated their life events as more negative and less controllable than the men. The results of this study suggest that women suffer more stress than men… “
Women tend to get anxious and depressed when exposed to stress, whereas men tend to act out by drinking or carousing, according to one study. Another study found that women experience nervousness, a desire to cry, and lack of energy. Men, on the other hand, develop insomnia, irritability, and anger—once again acting out, rather than internalizing stress reactions.  Perhaps because women are more likely to internalize, twice as many women suffer from depression compared to men.

Likewise, stress drives women to the doctor more than it does men, and women report higher rates of stress-related illnesses such as hypertension, depression, anxiety, and obesity. An American Psychological Association study found that 41-percent of women report stress headaches versus 30 percent of men. Thirty-two percent experience stress-related digestive issues, versus only 21 percent of men. But interestingly, men are more likely to die as a result of stress than women are. Dr. Beverly Thorn of the University of Alabama explains, “The really interesting gender difference is that women… present for treatment more frequently and have a greater number of stress-related disorders than men, but men die more frequently of stress-related illnesses — heart disease, cancer, and auto-immune disease.”

Biochemical reasons underlie the gender differences in stress reactions. In women, stress causes a significant amount of the hormone oxytocin to be released in the brain, but men release much less. Oxytocin modulates the pinch of stress to some degree, and women tend to react by doing what experts call “tending and befriending.” In other words, they reach out to friends or care for others. Many men on the other hand, explode, get angry, irritable, or try to numb out by drinking.

As we’ve written often, stress is a precursor to numerous illnesses and must be managed. Although women may suffer more stress than men, they’re also more likely to do something about it, which may be the real reason they tend to survive stress more readily. Experts recommend combatting stress by:

  • Practice Self Care. Exercise is a great stress buster, as is getting enough sleep and eating healthy food.
  • Get Help. When stress becomes a problem, seek support. It’s essential to get perspective on your situation and to develop coping strategies.
  • Take a Break. Even if only a long bath or a 30-minute reading respite.
  • Avoid Triggers. It might take working with a therapist to even figure out what the triggers are, but once you know what sets off your stress reaction, you can strategize about how to lessen contact.
  • And our personal favorite – Take Stress-Busting Supplements. Natural products containing herbs such as ashwagandha and St. John’s Wort can be extremely helpful in taking the edge off. You can find these and more in top quality formulas at Whitaker’s such as Adaptra, Adrenaplex, Mood Support, Calms Forte, Stress Release Essential Oil Blend, and more!  And don’t forget to take a good immune-building formula (such as Elderberry and Propolis) to ensure you stay healthy during stressful times.
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Did You Know that a To Do List Can Improve Your Sleep?!?

We all know that getting a good night’s sleep is essential for our health, but unfortunately for many of us, it does not happen on a regular basis. For some people, the problem stems from staying up too late to watch television or scrolling through the latest posts on social media. In other cases, however, it has less to do with devices and more to do with having trouble freeing your mind of all of the things going on in your life. If that’s your issue, we have very good news for you. New research suggests that there’s a surprisingly simple solution that might improve your slumber every night.

The study, which took place at Baylor University in Waco, Texas, found that people who write up a to-do list before going to bed of all the tasks they need to accomplish in the near future tend to fall asleep more quickly than those who don’t create such a list. That’s it; it’s that simple. These results are based on an experiment conducted in a sleep lab with 57 healthy male and female subjects between the ages of 18 and 30.

They were randomly divided into two groups. One group was instructed to write down a list of everything they needed to get accomplished in the following day or so. The second group was instructed to write down all of the things they had gotten done over the previous few days. The investigation was designed this way in order to directly compare placing the focus on tasks that needed to be completed versus tasks that had been completed to see which might ease the mind more.

After their writing assignment was complete, the participants remained in the sleep lab for the night. A weeknight was chosen specifically so the researchers could prevent weekend schedules from wreaking havoc on sleeping habits, as well as because busier days often mean more unfinished tasks during the week.

The volunteers were given a strict bedtime of 10:30 the night of the testing and were not permitted to do any work or use technology after that hour. Each of the subjects was monitored overnight by polysomnography, a diagnostic evaluation that measures brain waves, heart rate, breathing, blood oxygen levels, eye movements, and leg motion to record pertinent information about sleep.

Those who created to-do lists fell asleep nine minutes faster than their counterparts who had instead listed their recently completed tasks. And the more precise the to-do lists they made, the faster the subjects dozed off. While nine minutes might not seem like it would make a world of difference in your nightly slumber, it is actually quite a bit faster than the half hour many pharmaceutical sleep aids typically take. And we certainly know that making a list is a lot safer than using medications such as Ambien, Lunesta, and Sonata that are associated with side effects such as dizziness, diarrhea, burning sensations in the arms or legs, headaches, hallucinations, and death. A 2012 study at the Scripps Clinic in La Jolla, California showed that even very infrequent use of sleeping pills can up the risk of death by 3.5 times.

The current study did have shortcomings, including its small size and the fact that it was strictly controlled in a sleep lab. The conditions just cannot mimic those of real life, especially when there is an enforced bedtime and no use of electronic devices whatsoever allowed. Unfortunately, not many people these days get to bed without time in front of their televisions, laptops, or cell phones.

And that brings up an important point about what we might need to do at bedtime in order to really promote better sleep. As hard as it may be, it’s essential to disconnect yourself from screen time before bed. Shut the television and do a final check of email and social media sites at least 30 minutes prior to hitting the sack. The light emitted from these devices prevents your body from releasing enough melatonin and also increases your feelings of alertness. And getting sufficient sleep is vital to your health, as lack of it has been linked to obesity, immune system difficulties, and diabetes.

Take a note from the current research and give the to-do list a try as well. In fact, you might want to mark that down on today’s to-do list so you don’t forget. While it’s nice to note everything we’ve already accomplished, it can actually be more of a relief to your brain to know that you’re aware of what needs to be done and ready to tackle the tasks the next day.

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Weed Killer in our Water

U.S. Geological Survey researchers reported that weed killer was found in most of the water samples they tested in nine Midwestern states. The scientists measured levels of glyphosate (commonly known as RoundUp) and another substance called AMPA (aminomethylphosphonic acid) – one of the byproducts that remains as glyphosate breaks down. While glyphosate was found in 36% of the water samples, AMPA was found in 69% of them.

There’s also further evidence that this toxic, weed-killing chemical is making its way into our drinking water. For example, localized testing in a few water facilities in Florida and Louisiana uncovered higher-than-expected levels of glyphosate, some even higher than the EPA’s official Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL).

On top of that, independent testing commissioned by Moms Across America (MAA) (a nonprofit group dedicated to raising awareness about GMOs and environmental toxins) found that 70% of households in the U.S. had detectable levels of glyphosate in their drinking water! Their research also found that Americans had 10 times more glyphosate in their urine than Europeans.

Now, all of this research (from the U.S. Geological Society, state facilities, and MAA) found very low levels of glyphosate and AMPA in the water. But when you add up all the water you drink, mix into food, and cook food in…that can start to add up.

What’s more, glyphosate has been found in many foods that we eat. And when you put that all together, it’s almost certain you’re regularly ingesting glyphosate.

Glyphosate is almost certainly present in your food and drinking water, albeit in minuscule amounts. Still, that means you’ve been ingesting it every day for years – so it’s not too surprising that the constant presence of weed killer (a toxic chemical) could damage your digestive tract.

To make matters worse, glyphosate has been formulated to contain proven, patented antibiotic properties, which means it can kill off beneficial bacteria – like probiotics – in your gut, but it doesn’t kill off harmful bacteria like E. coli and Salmonella, which have developed antibiotic resistance. That throws your microbiome out of balance, causing the bad bacteria to outnumber the good bacteria, which causes all sorts of uncomfortable occasional GI issues, such as:
Diarrhea
Constipation
Gas
Bloating
Indigestion
Abdominal pain
Leaky gut

Thankfully, supplementing with a high quality probiotic like the many probiotic options we offer at Whitaker’s can recondition the health of your microbiome and help to restore healthy populations of good bacteria, which will keep your microbiome in healthy balance.  Using a water filtration system like the Santevia (we carry a countertop system, pitchers, and water bottle sticks) can help reduce your ongoing exposure to chemicals. 

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Book Review – Maker’s Diet Meals

How would you like to feed your family a delicious, biblically-inspired, beyond organic diet each and every day? 

Maker’s Diet Meals will give you a step-by-step guide to creating 150 mouth-watering breakfasts, lunches, dinners, snacks, smoothies, and desserts to help you lose weight and feel great. Combining the Bible’s ancient wisdom with the best of modern science, Maker’s Diet Meals unveils an eating plan that can help you shed unwanted pounds while cleansing and detoxifying your body. More than just a cookbook, Maker’s Diet Meals will teach you the health secrets of the Bible and introduce you to an ancient way of eating that is gaining the attention of modern science.

Be sure to pick up your copy from our bookshelf on your next visit to Whitaker’s.  

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Is Your Honey Real?

In natural healing circles, honey long has been used for its multiple benefits. Its flavonoids and antioxidants have been shown to be cancer and heart disease preventive; it helps reduce ulcers and other gastrointestinal problems; it’s antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal; it works as a cough suppressant; it heals wounds, it contains probiotics, it is a component of many skin crèmes, and it’s an anti-allergenic agent and one of many natural allergy remedies, based on the theory that because honey contains tiny traces of pollen, repeated exposure should help build up immunity to those pollens. But if you’ve been taking your daily dose of honey without receiving any of these benefits, the reason may not be that honey is useless. It may be that your honey isn’t actually honey.

That’s right. And the first clue is that an overwhelming proportion of the so-called honey sold in the US contains absolutely no pollen. The Food Safety News group conducted tests a few years back and found that more than 75 percent of the honey on retail store shelves was pollen free. In fact, 100 percent of the honey sold in drugstore chains like Walgreens and Rite-Aid contains no pollen, nor does any of the honey distributed in individual packets in restaurants. Supermarkets like Shop-Rite and Safeway didn’t fare much better in the study, nor did big box stores like Costco. In these stores, 76 percent of the honey on the shelves had no pollen, and while going organic increased the odds of getting the real thing, 30 percent of the organic honey tested had no pollen, either.

So what does this clue mean? Have bees found a way to produce honey without using pollen, then? Absolutely not. The reality has nothing to do with the bess and everything to do with greed. A lot of the honey sold in the US comes from Asia where it’s processed to remove the pollen and then cut with high-fructose corn syrup, sugar water, and artificial sweeteners to maximize profit. In fact, some so-called honey contains no trace of anything coming from bees, but rather, it’s a concocted blend of flavorings and sweeteners packaged and sold with a “honey” label. Even worse, the Food Safety News study found that much of the honey sold in the US contains dangerous contaminants such as traces of illegal antibiotics intended for animals and heavy metals.

So how can you be sure you’re getting real honey? Again, getting organic guarantees nothing. Your best bet is to buy from local producers who sell at locally owned stores. Local honey is better for you, anyway, as it contains an exact match to the local pollens that might be causing you allergy problems.

Be sure to pick up your jar of locally produced, non-heat treated, “real” honey on your next visit to Whitaker’s.  

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Elderberries

With Cold Season upon us, now is the time to stock up on your Elderberry Syrup or Dried Elderberries to make your own, but the real question is what benefits does Elderberry offer and why should I be taking it to boost my immune system?

Elderberries are

  • High in Vitamin C
  • High in dietary fiber
  • A good source of phenolic acids: These compounds are powerful antioxidants that can help reduce damage from oxidative stress in the body.
  • A good source of flavonols
  • Rich in anthocyanins: These compounds give the fruit its characteristic dark black-purple color and are a strong antioxidant with anti-inflammatory effects.

While we all know that Elderberries can help reduce the severity and duration of a cold, but did you know that there are studies proving that?

One study of 60 people with influenza found that those who took 15 ml of elderberry syrup four times per day showed symptom improvement in two to four days, while the control group took seven to eight days to improve.  Another study of 64 people found that taking 175-mg elderberry extract lozenges for two days resulted in significant improvement in flu symptoms, including fever, headache, muscle aches and nasal congestion, after just 24 hours. Furthermore, a study of 312 air travelers taking capsules containing 300 mg of elderberry extract three times per day found that those who got sick experienced a shorter duration of illness and less severe symptoms.

Other research is showing that Elderberries are great for heart health, helping to fight cancer, could protect against UV radiation, and may even have antidepressant properties.

So make sure to pick up your bottle of Elderberry Syrup or a bag of Dried Elderberries on your next visit!

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Echinacea

We all know and love Echinacea for it’s immune building and cold fighting properties and is typically a staple in most natural homes during cold and flu season, but did you know that it has additional excellent properties and benefits?

It can also help control your blood sugar – helping reduce high blood sugar and stabilize low blood sugar.  Since it is an antioxidant, it helps to protect your cells from damage which is key to long term health.

Anxiety?  Try Echinacea!  Not something you often think of as a first resource, but it has been shown in studies that it is great for calming anxiousness.  In fact, it is the key ingredient in our much loved AnxioCalm by Terry Naturally!

Early research is showing promise in the use of Echinacea for high blood pressure.  And while it is helping your blood pressure, it can also help reduce inflammation.

I promise you will never look at a bottle of Echinacea the same again!  That is seven excellent and easy uses – six of which we often do not discuss.

So make sure to pick up your bottle of Echinacea, box of AnxioCalm, or box of Echinacea Tea the next time you are in!

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Restricted Eating Times

While we all know that fasting offers many health benefits, there is new research showing that intermittent “restricted eating times” can also have health benefits.

So what is “restricted eating times”?  You choose 8 hours of the day to eat as usual choosing good healthy options (no binge eating!).  Then you take 16 hours to not eat.  This gives your body a break allowing it to work on healing, detoxing, and rest.

Unless you’re succumbing to gluttony during the eight-hour eating period, you’ll most likely end up eating fewer calories each day. But more importantly, because you will tend to use up all of your body’s available glucose during your fasting hours, you force your body to start burning fat for energy, which results in weight loss. And finally, as a result of moving your body into a fat burning state, your insulin levels will drop—since it’s no longer needed at the same levels—while at the same time, growth hormone and noradrenaline levels are increased, which yet again increases your body’s breakdown of fat for energy.

This is a good way to have a balanced approach to reducing calories and encouraging weight loss.  And again, remember that as with most diets, this is ideal for 4-12 weeks as a reset.  Then resume normal balanced eating throughout the day with good grass fed low grain fed meats, lots of fresh organic veggies, some fruit, some carbs preferably complex carbs, and an occasional sweet treat!